Bunch transfer for cigar machines



July 23, 1929. L. FERENCI, 1,721,551

BUNCH TRANSFER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed April 21, 1928 ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LESTER FERENCI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL CIGARMACHINERYCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUNCH TRANSFER EORCIGAR MACHINES.

Application filed April 21,

This invention relates to bunch transfers for cigar machines, for takingout the cigar bunches from the various mechanisms of a ci ar machine anddepositing them into ot er mechanisms, its main object being to improvethe operation of the bunch grippers.

Hitherto in transfers the bunch grippers started opening before thebunch reached the point at which it was to be deposited, thus resultingin dropping the bunch if unusually small. It is an object of theinvention. to make gripping mechanism in which the opening of thegrippers will take place during the first part of the return movement ofthe transfer arm.

In transfers hitherto employed the operation of the grippers waseffected by spring pressure, so that the pressure on the bunch wouldvary on large and small bunches, thus resulting in dropping of a smallbunch or sticking fast of a large bunch when the spring ,pressure wasset for a given sized bunch. It is an object of the present device toprovide a gripper mechanismwvhich will produce uniform grippingpressure, despite variations in the size of the bunch, and to eliminatesprings from the means actually pressin the grlppers against the bunch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gripper operatingmechanism w ich will operate quickly with respect to the movement of thetransfer arm, so that there will be a little movement of the transferarm during the opening or closing movement of the gr1ppers.-

- With these and other' objects not specifically mentioned in vview, theinvention consists of certain constructions and combinations which willbe hereinafter more fully described and then specifically set forth inthe appended claims.

Generally speaking, the present device includes fixed and pivotedgrippers mounted on an oscillating transfer, arm, the pivoted gripperbeing provided with a pinion gear in engagement with a frictionallyretarded gear segment. The frictionally retarded gear segment onmovement of the arm tends to rotate the pivoted gripper to closed oropen position, depending on the direction of movement of the arm. Whenthe gripper has been rotated to its 0 enor closed position, the pinioncauses t e segmental gear, which is pivoted on the same axis as the arm,to follow the motion of the arm, all

1928. Serial No. 271,877.

the time tending to cause rotation of the pinion and further pressure onthe pivoted gripper.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved cigar bunch transfer,arranged for holding the bunch crosswise with respect to the path ofmovement thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in crosssection, of the crosswisetransfer shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in crosssection, of a grippermechanism modification for the improved bunch transfer, arranged forholding the bunch lengthwise of the path of movement; and l Fig. 4 is asectional plan view of the gripper mechanism of the lengthwise bunchtransfer, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

In carrying the invention into effect,.there is provided a transfer armmounted for oscillation, bunch grippers carried by said arm, means foroscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, andmechanism brought into action by the first part of the movement of saidarm in .each direction for operating said grippers. In the bestconstructions contemplated, the said operating means includes a frictionactuating device for operating the grippers. In the best constructionsalso, this operating means includes a friction controlled shaft andmeans connecting said shaft with one of said grippers. The means abovereferred to may be widely varied in construction within the scope of theclaims, for the particular machine selected to'illustrate the inventionis but one of many possible embodime nts of the same. The inventiontherefore is not to be restricted to the recise details of the structureshown and escribed.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a swinging transfer arm 5 is clamped on asleeve shaft 6 having integral therewith gear 7, which is oscillated bya rack '8 operated from the cigar 100 machine. The sleeve shaft 6 isjournalled in a support 9 and supports within. it apivot shaft 10. Theswinging arm 5 has journalled on its free end a shaft 11, to.which isadjustably clamped a sprocket 12 connect- 5 ed with a stationarysprocket 13 of equal size, by a chain 14 provided with a chain tightenerspring 15. Near the forward end of the shaft 11, which is held in placeby a fixed'collar 16, is clamped in pendent posi- 110 tion a'stationarygripper 17 which co operates with movable gripper 18 loosely pivoted onthe shaft 11 on both sides of the clamp portion of the stationarygripper. These grippers carry the cigar bunch B in honzontal.position,hanging below the shaft 11. The stationary sprocket 13 is looselycentered on the sleeve shaft 6 and is fastened to the support 9 by a pin19, so that the oscillating motion of the transfer arm 5 turns thesprocket 12 by the exact amount required to keep the grippers in avertically pendent positionat any point during its swing.

The movable gripper 18 is clamped to the hub of a. gear wheel 20, whichis loosely mounted on shaft 11 carried by the transfer arm. The gear 20is in mesh with a gear segment 21, which isfixedly mounted on the frontend of the pivot shaft 10, while the rear end'ofthat shaft is held byfriction against a stationary bracket 22 attached to the pedestal 9. Therear end of the shaft 10 is threaded and has on it an adjusting nut 23,by which a coil spring 2 1 is forced against a slidable friction collar25, which is kept from turning with respect to shaft 25 by a pin 26inthe shaft projecting into a slot in the collar and which pressesfriction washers 27 between a shoulder 28 of the shaft 10, the collar25, and the bracket 22 thereby clamping the shaft to the bracket, thefree end of which forms acollar between the friction washers. Themovable gripper. 18 carries a stop 'pin29 which engages a lug 30 of thestationary finger 17 when the movable finger is opened to dis charge abunch. To accurately locate the end positions of the arm 5, theadjustable stop screws 31 are provided in the same, which engage a stoppin 32 attached to support 9.

In the'operation of the device, when the transfer arm'is in position togrip the bunch to be transferred, the first part of the transfermovement causes the gear 20 to be rotated by the frictionally held gearsegment 21, thus swinging the pivoted gripper 18 to gripping position,as shown in dotted lines on the left hand of Fig. 1} Further movement ofthe transfer arm causes the nowrelatively stationary gear 20 to carrythe gear segment 21 along with the arm 5. During the remainder of thetransfer movement, however, the

frictional retarding of the gear segment by the frictional means 27 and28 acting on the stationary bracket 22, constantly tends to rotate thepivoted gripper 18 to closed position, thus maintaining a uniformpressureon the clgar bunch which is independent of the size of thebunch. After the transfer arm has carried the bunch to the position atwhich it is to be deposited and has started back, the

pivoted gripper '18 is again free to rotate. The tendency of thefrictionally held gear segment is now to rotate the gear 20, and withConsequently, the return movement of the arm 5 it the gripper.18, toopen position.

.transfer arm 5 as before.

Referring toFigs. 3 and 4, in which a modifie'd form of the device forlengthwise transfer of a bunch is shown, the movable gripper 18*, whichin this form is secured on the cross pin 33, is supported for rotationin the head block 34: fast on the shaft 11". This gripper is actuated bya bevel gear segment 35 clamped on the hubof a gear wheel 20 and meshingwith the bevel gear segment36 attached to the cross pin 33. This bevelgear segment 36 on movement of the bevel gear segment 35, in response tothe action of gear segment 21 on gear 20, will move the gripper 18exactly as the gripper 18 in the above described form. The stationarygripper 17 is relatively large compared with that of the v gear 20, theclosing movement of the gripper 18 will be relatively quick with respectto the movement of the transfer arm. Indeed, by changing the relativeradii of these two parts, the closing movement of the gripper 18 may bemade as near instantaneous as practically desirable.

By adjusting the thumb screw 23, the pressure exerted by the grippers onthe bunch may be readily adjusted as desired. It is noted in thisconnection that the only spring used in this improved mechanism is theone cmployed to, adjust the friction of the pivots and since this springis under hand control, its constancy is immaterial to the reliability ofthe device. This is of importance because springs vary with use and,therefore, elimination of springs eliminates a source of variation inpressure of the grippers on the bunch.

What is claimed is: v

1. In a cigar'bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, ofbunch'grippers-carried by said arm, means for oscillatingsaid arm tocause said grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism brought intoaction by the first part of the movement of said arm in each directionfor operating said grippers.

2. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combinawith respect to the other bysaid operating tion with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm,means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport abunch, and mechanism brought into action by the first part of themovement of said arm in each direction for operating said grippers, sa darm having. means for maintaining the grippersin pendent position duringarm' oscillation.

, 3. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination With an arm,;of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism brought into action bythe first part of the movement of said arm in each direction foroperating said grippers, said arm having sprockets and a chain formaintaining the grippers in pendent position durin arm oscillation.

4. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm,-means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch,

and mechanism brought into action by the first part of the movement ofsaid arm in each direction for operating said grippers, said grippersincludingone which is moved means. Y

-5. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried ,by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism brought into action bythe first part of the movement of said arm in each direction foroperating said grippers, said oscillating means including a pinionformoving said arm and a rack for moving said pinion. p

6. In a' cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch,

and mechanism brought into action by the first part of the movement ofsaid arm in each direction for operating said grippers, said I grippers.

operating means including a friction actuating device.

7. In a cigar bunch transfer, the eombination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch,

and mechanism brought into action by the first part of the movement ofsaid arm in each direction for operating said grippers, said operatingmeans including a friction controlled shaft and means connecting saidshaft with one of said grippers.

8. In a'cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgripperscarried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism brought into action bythe first part of the movement of said arm in each direction foroperating said grippers, said operating means including a frictioncontrolled shaft at the pivotal axis of said arm, a gear sector carriedby said shaft, and a pinion meshing with said sector and connected withone of said grippers.

within said sleeve, a friction-device resisting movement of said shaft,and gripper operating connections actuated by said shaft duringthe firstpart of each rack stroke.

10. The combination with a support, of a pinion sleeve journalled insaidlsupport, a reciprocating rack oscillating. said pinion sleeve, anarm carried by said sleeve, cigar bunch grippers carried by said arm, ashaft within said sleeve, a friction device resisting movement of saidshaft, a gear sector carried by said shaft, and a' pinion meshing w thsaid sector and connectedwith one of said 'In testimony whereof, I havesigned my name to this specification. r

' LESTER F ERENCI.

